Container and safety closure therefor



Dec. 8, 1964 B. K. MILBOURNE CONTAINER AND SAFETY CLOSURE THEREFOR v Filed 001;. ll, 1963 FIG. .1.

FIG. 4

FIG. 2

INVENTOR. BENJAMIN K. MILBOURNE ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,160,301 CONTAINER AND SAFETYCLOSURE THEREFGR BeniaminK. Milbourne,.Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to K.C.K. Holding Company, a partnership Filed. Oct. 11, 1963, Ser. No. 315,578 4 Claims. (Cl. 215-.-.-9.)

This invention relates to a bottle or jar having a safety closure and more particularly to such a structure requiring, to open, manipulations which are difficult for small children. 5

It is an object of this invention to provide a safety closure, all parts of whichmay be made of an inexpensive plastic, if desired.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a container which is of conventional construction, insofar as it is equipped with the usual threads at the neck thereof, and a safety closure therefor whichmay berelatively easily manipulated by adults but only with difficulty by small children so that medicines, corrosive substances, and poisons may be placed therein with relative safety.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide an assembly of the aforementioned type requiring a minimum of parts.

Other objects and advantages of this, invention, it not specifically set forth, will become apparent from the description which follows.

In the drawings accompanying this application:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded view inperspective of the cover assembly of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is an assembled view in perspective of the cover assembly of this invention with the locking key in place.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevation, partially in section, showing the assembly of this invention with the locking meansin place.

FIGURE ,4 is a view similarto FIGURE 3 with the locking means not in place so that the safety feature is in effect. I

Generally, this invention comprises a container and safety closuretherefor, the entire assembly including a bottle or other container having a cylindrical neck at the top ,end thereof, which neck has integral threads. The closure assembly includes an interior cap element including a planar top and an integral cylindrical collar having integral internal threads mating with the threads of the neck of the container, theitop of the interior cap preferably being relatively slick and having a notch at the intersection of the planar top and the collar, the notch extending perpendicular to the planar top of the interior cap element and radially of the cap element. The notch should extend only partially through the interior cap element whereby the interior cap element can be used to seal the container. There is also providedas part of the closure assembly an exterior cap element having a planar top and a collar fitting loosely concentrically about the collar of the interior cap element for rotation relative thereto. The exterior cap element has a slot at the intersection of the planar top and the collar, the

slot extending perpendicular to the planar top of the interior cap element and radially of the element. Finally, there is provided a key which is of relatively small crosssection and which is capable of fitting through the slot and into the notch whereby to lock the two cap elements against relative rotation. Preferably, the key is. attached to the exterior cap element by means of a resilient flexible strap to permit the key to be manipulated to register with the slot and notch.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like characters refer to like parts throughout, there is shown a bottle or jar which has continuous helical threads 12 about 3,150,301 Patented Dec. 8 1 964 its cylindrical neck so that an ordinary cap might be screwed down tightly over the mouth. The container body It is conventional; it is the closure member which is the subject of this invention. Thus,-the safety closure member of this invention requires no costly special bottle structure. The closure assembly resembles in appearance a conventional cover having internal threads 14 which register withthe jar threads 12. The. entire, closure assembly consists of at least two parts including the cylindrical exterior cap element .16 having a planar top 18 and, an integral cylindrical collar 20. These interior threads mate with the threads on the neck of the container. The element 16 has one or more notches 22 at the intersection of the planar top 18 and the collar 20, the notches extending perpendicular to the planar. top and radially of the collar. The notches shouldextend only partially through the interior cap 16 whereby the interior cap element can be used to seal the contents within the container. To assistin this sealing action, a conventional paper disk 34may-be used.

There is also provided an exterior cap element, gen-- erally 26, having a planar top 28 and an integral collar 36 fitting loosely concentrically about the collar of the interior cap element for rotation relative thereto. As shown in the sectional views, there is provided a small lip 32 on the exterior cap for locking the interior and exterior cap elements against axial movement. Each of these cap elements preferably is of .a stiff plastic and may he forced together and will remain in a unitary relationship unless forceably separated. The exterior cap element has a slot 34 extending'entirely through the exte- 'rior cap element whereby to permit access to the notches In operation, the key normally tends to remain in the position shown in FIGURES 1 and 3 as the strap 38 tends to straighten out when not urged in one direction or another and the assembly would not be foundby small children with the key already in place. Rather, the interior and exterior cap elements 16 and 26 rotate freely relative to one another. When it is desired to remove or apply the cap, the key 36 is pressed into the slot 34 and the exterior cap 26 rotated until the key drops into a notch 22. It will be seen thatfurtherrotation of the cap assemblyswill either remove or apply the cap to the container.

Obviously, many modifications and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, and therefore only such limitations should be made as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

'1. An assembly including a container and safety closure therefor including in combination:

(a) a container having a cylindrical neck at the top thereof and integral threads molded in the cylindrical neck;

(b) an interior cap element including a planar top and a cylindrical collar having internal threads mating with the threads on the neck of said container, the top of said interior cap element having atleast a single notch therein; I

(c) an exterior cap element having a planar top and a collar fitting loosely concentrically about the collar of the interior cap element for rotation relative thereto, said exterior cap element having a slot therethrough positioned for registry With said notch in the said interior cap element, said slot extending entirely through said exterior cap element-whereby to permit access to said notch;

(d) and a key of a sufliciently narrow width to fit through said slot and into said notch, said key-being attached to said assembly by means of a flexible strap to permit said key to be manipulated to register with, said slot and notch, said strap being integral With" said exterior cap element.

2. An assembly including'a container and safety closure therefor including in combination: i

(a) a container having a cylindrical neck at the top end thereof and integral threads molded in the 1 cylindrical neck;

(b) an interior cap element including a planar top (c) an exterior cap element havingia planar top and a collar fitting loosely concentrically about the collar of the interior cap element for rotation relative thereto, said exterior cap element having a slot at the intersection of the said planar top and said collar,

1 said slot extending perpendicularly'to the planar top of said exteriorxcap element and radially of the collar thereof, said slot extending entirely through said exterior cap element whereby to permit access to said notch of said interior cap element through said slot in said exterior cap element, said exterior cap element having a lip along the lowermost edge.

and a cylindrical collar having internal threads mating with the threads of-the neck of said container, the top of said interior cap element having at le'ast a single notch therein at the intersection'of said planar top and said collar, said notch extending perpendicw. larly to the planartop of said interior cap element and radially of the collar thereof; r V

(c) an exterior cap element having a planar top and a collar fitting loosely concentrically about the collar of the interior cap element for rotation relative thereto, said exterior cap element having. a slot at the intersection of the said planar top and said collar,

said slot extending perpendicularly to the planar top of said exterior cap element and'radially of the collar 'notch of said interior cap element through said slot flexible strap to permit said key to be manipulated to register Withth'e said slot and notch, said strap normally. urging said key out of registry with said slot and notch,'s'aid strap being integral with said exterior cap element.

4. An assembly including-a container and safety closure therefor including in combination:'

(a) a container having a cylindrical neck at the top thereof and integral threads molded in the cylindrical f k;

(b) an'interior cap element including a top and a cylindrical collar having internal threads mating with the threads on the neck of said container, said interior cap element having a relatively depressed portion in the exterior surface thereof;

collar fitting loosely concentrically about the collar of the interior cap element for rotation relative thereto, said exteriorcap element having a passage extending entirely therethrough, said passage being positioned so that a key extending through the said passage may be caused to register with said relatively depressed portion of said interior cap element;

(d) and a key of a sufficiently narrow Width to fit through the said passage and to register with said relatively depressed portion of said interior cap element, said key being attached to the said assembly by means of a flexible strapto permit said key to be in said exterior cap element; s (d) and a key'of a sufiicientlynarrow Width to fit through said slot and into said'notch, said keybeingattached to said assembly by means of a'resilient, flexible strap to permit said key to be manipulated to register with the said slot and notch, said strap 40 normally urging said key out of registry with said slot and notch, said strap being integral with said.

exterior cap element. 7 l i 3. An assembly including a container and safety closure therefor including in combination:

(a) a container having a cylindrical neck at the top end thereof and integral threads molded in the cylindrical neck; (b) an interior cap element including. a planar top and a cylindrical collar having internal threads mating with the threads of the neck of'said container, .the' top of saidinterior cap element having at least a single notch therein at the intersection of the said planar top and said collar, said notch'extending pertion and toprevent relative movement between the interior and exterior cap elements, said strap being integral with'said exterior cap element.

References Cited inithe file of this patent UNITED"STATES PATENTS pendicularly to the planartop of said interior cap 2359639 Hanahail 1944 element and radially of the collar thereof, said notch 2772803 Pasquaneno 1956 extending only partially throu h said interior. cap i element .whereby said interior Zap element'may be FOREIGN PATENTS 1,207,211 France Feb. 15, 1960 used to seal the said container;

manipulated to enter said relatively depressed por- I 

1. AN ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A CONTAINER AND SAFETY CLOSURE THEREFOR INCLUDING IN COMBINATION: (A) A CONTAINER HAVING A CYLINDRICAL NECK AT THE TOP THEREOF AND INTEGRAL THREADS MOLDED IN THE CYLINDRICAL NECK; (B) AN INTERIOR CAP ELEMENT INCLUDING A PLANAR TOP AND A CYLINDRICAL COLLAR HAVING INTERNAL THREADS MATING WITH THE THREADS ON THE NECK OF SAID CONTAINER, THE TOP OF SAID INTERIOR CAP ELEMENT HAVING AT LEAST A SINGLE NOTCH THEREIN; (C) AN EXTERIOR CAP ELEMENT HAVING A PLANAR TOP AND A COLLAR FITTING LOOSELY CONCENTRICALLY ABOUT THE COLLAR OF THE INTERIOR CAP ELEMENT FOR ROTATION RELATIVE THERETO, SAID EXTERIOR CAP ELEMENT HAVING A SLOT THERETHROUGH POSITIONED FOR REGISTRY WITH SAID NOTCH IN THE SAID INTERIOR CAP ELEMENT, SAID SLOT EXTENDING ENTIRELY THROUGH SAID EXTERIOR CAP ELEMENT WHEREBY TO PERMIT ACCESS TO SAID NOTCH; (D) AND A KEY OF A SUFFICIENTLY NARROW WIDTH TO FIT THROUGH SAID SLOT AND INTO SAID NOTCH, SAID KEY BEING ATTACHED TO SAID ASSEMBLY BY MEANS OF A FLEXIBLE STRAP TO PERMIT SAID KEY TO BE MANIPULATED TO REGISTER WITH SAID SLOT AND NOTCH, SAID STRAP BEING INTEGRAL WITH SAID EXTERIOR CAP ELEMENT. 